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Jamie Raskin on Gun Control
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Ban assault weapons; plus fingerprint licensing system
Gun violence is a national epidemic and a national disgrace. But the industry-fed National Rifle Association and right-wing Republicans have continually blocked common-sense solutions to the crisis. In the Maryland Senate, Jamie has been an effective
and unafraid leader on gun control. In 2013, he worked to get passed one of the most comprehensive gun safety laws in the nation. It imposed a life-saving fingerprint licensing system and banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
This year, Jamie crafted legislation to create a process for convicted domestic abusers to relinquish their firearms. In Congress, Jamie will fight for legislation modeled after Maryland's successful and comprehensive law.
Appealing to the vast majority of gun owners who favor common-sense reforms to prevent catastrophes like the massacres in Newtown and Aurora, Jamie will work to build a "common-sense" coalition to make real change happen.
Source: 2016 Maryland House campaign website JamieRaskin.com
, Nov 8, 2016
Supports gun-control legislation.
Raskin supports the PVS survey question on gun control
The Project Vote Smart Voter Guide inferred how candidates would respond to the question, 'Guns: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?'
Project Vote Smart notes, "in response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided [for candidates who] refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads."
Source: Political Courage Test 16PVS_Q10 on Nov 8, 2016
Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer.
Raskin voted YEA the Bipartisan Background Checks Act
H.R.8: To require a background check for every firearm sale. This Act may be cited as the "Background Check Expansion Act".
- It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer a firearm to any other person who is not so licensed [and conducted a background check].
- The [restrictions] shall not apply to any law enforcement officer, or member of the armed forces, or bona fide gift between spouses, between parents and their children, or between siblings or [immediate family members].
- Temporary transfers [are allowed] if the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee will use or intends to use the firearm in a crime or is prohibited from possessing firearms; at a shooting range; or while reasonably necessary for the purposes of hunting.
Opposing argument from the Heritage Foundation, 2/26/2019: Heritage Action opposes the Bipartisan Background Checks Act
(H.R. 8) and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard. This legislation would require universal background checks for all firearm sales (even private) with specific exceptions. Unfortunately, universal background checks would do little to prevent firearm violence and would instead make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to purchase, own, carry, and use a firearm. Studies show that universal background checks are largely ineffective when it comes to preventing mass shootings. In addition, most people imprisoned for firearm-related crimes access their firearms illegally through theft, the underground market, family members, or friends. H.R. 8 is poorly written and makes criminals out of many law-abiding Americans who commonly make low-risk firearm transfers.
Legislative outcome Roll call 99 in House on 2/27/2019 passed 240-190-2; introduced in Senate 1/8/2019; no action as of 3/28/2020.
Source: Congressional vote 19-HR0008 on Feb 27, 2019
Page last updated: Jan 11, 2021